North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
Abstract/Summary:
Project Name: Kaufman-Roitsch, TX (41RR16);
Reference: Kvamme, K. L. (2000). Geophysical Investigations at the Kaufman-Roitsch Site (41RR16), Texas. Submitted to Larry Banks, Detroit, TX.
Banks, L. D., and N. T. Banks (2002). Last Twentieth Century Archeological Investigations at the Arnold Roitsch Site (41RR16), Red River County, Texas. Submitted to the Summerlee Foundation, Dallas, Texas.
Geophysical investigations were carried out at the Kaufman-Roitsch site (41RR16) on September 18, 1999. This unusual site is located north of the town of Detroit, Texas, in and about a graded access road of sand that leads to the Red River, a short distance to the north. Earlier in 1999 a number of artifacts of Caddo origin were found eroding out of the road. Investigation and excavation by Larry Banks showed that the artifacts were associated with a burial of a high status individual. The grave was very shallow, perhaps a maximum of 40 cm deep, and extended from one edge well into the road. Associated grave goods of native manufacture and an iron knife blade may date the burial in the mid-1500s, and possibly associate it with the DeSoto expedition. The presence of iron is significant from a geophysical standpoint, because magnetic surveys are particularly sensitive to ferrous materials. Consequently, magnetic survey was called for, in addition to other methods. The geophysical surveys were conducted by Kenneth L. Kvamme, with the assistance of Jo Ann Christein Kvamme, Larry Banks, and several avocational archaeologists who provided much help as field assistants. A single block of ground that measured 20 x 60 m at its maximum extent was examined during this survey, centered in and adjacent to the road about the known grave. The areas off-road were vegetated in low bushes, sparse grass, and weeds. At each edge of the road a berm of earth approximately 10-30 cm high frequently occurred. Three geophysical surveys were run within this area: magnetic gradiometry, electrical resistivity, and ground-penetrating radar.
The geophysical surveys revealed numerous anomalies of possible cultural significance. The excavated grave showed as a strong anomaly in all data sets. The GPR and electrical resistivity surveys pointed to the locus of a second grave and a possible trail feature, both verified by later excavation. Other anomalies of similar form were suggested that warranted further investigation. The magnetic survey yielded many localized dipole anomalies indicative of iron artifacts. Subsequent excavation at these loci verified the presence of numerous iron and steel artifacts of historic or recent manufacture, the latter due principally to road traffic. Many more of these anomalies need to be tested for the presence of additional historic iron artifacts.